I have been tied to the dock this past week as most have also been in the same scenario due to hazardous sea and bay conditions with wind gusts to 40 knots. Most boaters and beach fisherman took a few days to catch up on odds and ends. The last day of August marks the end of Sea Bass season (until October) and the last week for Fluke fisherman. The remainder of this week and into next will have most making the final push for Fluke as the season ends September 5th. The Ocean reefs and wrecks will be the place to be for keeper Fluke as they are on their way to deeper water. Let’s hope for good weather and sea conditions for the rest of the week and through our Labor Day holiday!
Here is this week’s rundown:
The Golden Eagle out of Belmar was tied to the dock for most of the week with the heavy Northeasterly winds the area experienced. The boat will be back on tomorrow with it’s morning trips searching for Bluefish, Bonita, Albacore, and Mackerel. The 430PM afternoon trip will focus on Fluke and Seas Bass. Anglers can save 10% by purchasing tickets on line.
Fishermens Supply Co in Point Pleasant reported a busy few days in the shop as most anglers have been restocking and also getting ready for the fall run with the recent inclement weather. The Fluke bite was very good on both the Sea Girt and Axel Carlson Reef sites on keeper Fluke to 6 pounds. The successful anglers have been jigging with bucktails tipped with 6-inch Gulp grub tails. The inshore bonita bite has started with boaters reporting decent action from the Mud Hole down to the eastern Barnegat Ridge on trolled clark spoons and feathers. The Manasquan River and beachfront have been inundated with snapper Bluefish to keep anglers busy.
Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach reported similar conditions being tied up at the dock over the past few days. The crew took advantage by getting some maintenance completed and will be out today targeting Fluke. The vessel will be sailing for Fluke everyday up to the close of the Fluke season. Bluefish trips are every Thursday through Sunday night, leaving at 730pm.
MIMI IV in Point Pleasant Beach has been tied to the dock due to the recent high winds, but before the blow the skipper has been putting his clients on nice Sea Bass and Fluke. The boat will be sailing today for Open Boat Fluke and last day Sea Bass.
The Gambler in Point Pleasant has been booking for its upcoming fall Tuna trips and the dates are filling up fast. The boat recommends checking online for details.
Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported tough fishing and lack of participation this past week due to poor weather conditions. Once the ocean calms down, it should get back to snappers and Fluke in the surf. The Barnegat Inlet jetties are giving up keeper Fluke, snapper Bluefish, Triggerfish, and Tog. There has been spotty Blowfish reports in the backwaters of Barnegat Bay.
Carolyn Ann III in Barnegat Light reported good Fluke fishing prior to the hard Easterly winds that hit the area the earlier part of the week. Gina said that the crew performed some maintenance on the vessel while being tied to the dock. The boat will be running two-half day trips through Friday, then converting to the 3/4 day trips through the remainder of the Fluke season.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported good action on Fluke around the Barnegat Inlet and also at the Garden State North, Garden State South, and Tires. The backbay is loaded with snapper Bluefish and the shop has received some spotty reports of Blowfish. There has been some reports of Bonita and Albacore at the Barnegat Ridge on trolled spoons and feathers. But it’s a roll of the dice as not too many anglers have been out over the last few days, but shop-owner Liza recommends hitting the reef sites for big Fluke.
Tonys Bait And Tackle in Manahawkin reported smaller Fluke around both inlets and some Weakfish at the mid-island bridges during the night shift. Most have been caught on soft-plastics in Pink or White. There are a lot of small snappers around the entire Barnegat Bay which provide great action for the kids. Crabbing has been a little off with the recent weather, but should regain for a big push through September.
Riptide Bait and Tackle in Brigantine had slow conditions due to the poor weather, but they did have some anglers stopping in late in the day to fish as the winds start laying down. The shop has been prepping for their annual Fall Bluefish and Striped Bass Fishing Derby. The Brigantine area is getting some keeper Fluke around bridges and inlet, and the surf zone has had good numbers of snapper Bluefish and Kingfish
Fin-Atics in Ocean City had good numbers of Kingfish, Croakers, Spot, and snapper Bluefish hitting the surf. There has also been some Rays caught off the surf along with an occasional Brown Shark at night. With the poor weather in the early part of the week, the shop did offer some great deals on their rental paddle-boards and sold out in a few hours.
The Wildwood and Cape May area had some decent fishing prior to this past week’s blow. There has been plenty of Fluke on the reefs with bigger fish concentrated on the structure, so short drifts or holding the boat over the structure will be the most productive. Most of the fish have been caught between 85 and 110 feet. There are still some small Bluefish and Spanish Mackerel on the Five Fathom Bank and South Shoal on trolled lures and spoons. The water has been pretty green inshore, so not too many quality reports on Tuna or Mahi. Offshore vessels were picking up more Blue and White Marlin prior to the blow, with most boats fishing in the Spencer and Wilmington canyons. The Tuna have been really spotty in the canyons with no concentration of fish anywhere. There has been a record amount of Squid and Tinker Mackerel in the Canyons, which might explain the lack of Tuna. In the surf, Croakers have been at Higbee”s beach and off the jetties in good numbers on Bloodworms or Clams. Cape May Point still has good numbers of Fluke around the rocks, but you really need to work to find keepers. The Snapper Blues have shown up in the surf and are torturing anglers trying to fish for other species. Wildwood Crest Beach had good reports of Spot and Kingfish on Bloodworm, Clam, or FishBites.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
This is the final few days of Fluke season, so I would recommend giving it your best and hopefully you have the opportunity to jump on a boat to hit the deeper water structures for quality keepers. I also recommend bringing plenty of bucktails, 6-inch Gulp, and leader as fishing on or very close to the structure will give the best bites. If you are stuck in the bay due to the size of your vessel or sea conditions, then work those inlets and target drop-offs, rockpiles, bridge abutments, and jetties as most big Fluke will hang in these areas. Although not too many boats have been out this past week, you never know what has been pushed in due to the recent Easterly winds. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!